Now Reading: India thermal plants cut coal imports for blending by 71.5%
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India thermal plants cut coal imports for blending by 71.5%
India's thermal power plants cut coal imports for blending by 71.5 per cent over three years, falling from 23.9 million tonnes in 2023-24 to 6.8 million tonnes in 2025-26, Minister of State…
The Story in Brief
India's thermal power plants cut coal imports for blending by 71.5 per cent over three years, falling from 23.9 million tonnes in 2023-24 to 6.8 million tonnes in 2025-26, Minister of State for Coal Satish Chandra Dubey told Rajya Sabha on Monday. The trend continued this financial year with just 1.7 million tonnes imported for blending between April and June 2026-27.
However, imports continue for coking coal needed by steel plants and high-grade thermal coal not available domestically. Coal India holds a stockpile of 122.46 million tonnes. The minister said imports also remain necessary for imported coal-based power plants and for blending where technically or operationally required.
The Indian Opinion
The headline number is encouraging, but the story is more nuanced. While blending imports have nosedived, coking coal imports for steel remain high and domestic reserves of high-grade thermal coal are limited. The government points to Coal India's 122 million tonne stockpile, yet power plants still import for technical reasons. The real test will be whether the steel sector can cut coking coal imports through the new Coking Coal Mission. Until that number falls, claims of coal import independence remain incomplete.
Source: energy.economictimes.indiatimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
